ARBV Update

Edition 13, June 2023

Collective City - Open House Melbourne 2023

The 2023 Open House Melbourne Weekend explores perspectives and projects that speak to the power of collective, adaptive and responsive design approaches with a key focus on creating a more equitable, accessible and inclusive city.

This year the ARBV has partnered with Open House Melbourne to host a walking tour of the city of Melbourne called "100 Years of Registered Architects in Victoria". The walk will take place on Saturday, 29th July 2023 from 2pm - 4pm.

Join us on the walking tour to celebrate the centenary of the Architects Registration Board of Victoria, as we showcase a snapshot of Melbourne buildings that depict the evolution of architecture and the growing needs of Victoria over the last 100 years.

Head to the Open House Melbourne website to register for the walk, or one of the many other great events being held over the July weekend.

Reminder: Your registration fees are now due

To work as an architect in Victoria, you must be registered with the Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV). Registration helps ensure the quality and safety of Victoria's built environment and thereby strengthens consumer protection and the reputation of the architectural profession. Thank you to everyone who has already renewed their registration this year.

The annual fees to renew your registration as an architect (practising) are due Saturday, 1 July 2023. To renew your registration, log in the ARBV Portal and go to your 'Dashboard' and click on the 'Pay renewal' button.  

The process for renewing your registration has changed given the introduction of the enduring fit and proper person requirement and mandatory CPD declaration. You must complete the declaration on the ARBV Portal as part of the renewal process. If you do not make the declaration it means your registration will not be renewed.

If you have requested that your employer pay for your renewal fees, the company must complete the payment in the ARBV Portal for the renewal to be processed.

For instructions on how to log in to the ARBV Portal and pay your renewal fees, please see the Registration Renewal Guide or view the video on our website.

If you have any queries or are having difficulty paying your annual fees, please call us on 03 9417 4444.

Survey data also provides valuable insights, and helps us to identify key trends and issues. This data is used to inform and guide the delivery of the ARBV's regulatory strategy.

The below is a snapshot of the data collected from our surveys conducted in 2022:

• Of the over 1300 approved entities (companies and partnerships), the majority have less than 5 employees.
• A majority of architects work in small practice with less than 10 architects per organisation.
• A majority of architects are involved in single tenancy residential projects, the next highest project type being public infrastructure.

Participation numbers: 3808 architects, 921 companies and 27 partnerships.

Issues and Trends

The ARBV uses registrant data to identify registration trends and emerging issues. 

In the last financial year, 239 practitioners changed their registration class from the practising class to the non-practising class and 125 changed their registration class from non-practising to practising. Ceasing work in Victoria was the most common reason given by registrants changing their registration class to non-practising. Other reasons included ceasing work as an architect to work in a different profession or industry and ceasing work for parental leave or other leave of absence.

Another source used to inform our activities is from our complaints data. Complaints are received by the ARBV about a broad variety of issues, including:

• inadequate communication by the architect about the project or failing to listen to the client’s instructions
• failing to properly document the client-architect agreement
• failing to act with skill and care in providing architectural services
• unreasonable delays in the provision of architectural services
• rude, aggressive, discriminatory or dishonest behaviour by an architect
• lack of or incomplete information about project costs or excessive fees for architectural services
• failing to disclose a conflict of interest or breaching confidentiality.

In 2021-22, the ARBV’s complaint data indicated that the highest incidence of complaints about professional conduct related to the following complaint issues:

• deficient client architect agreement
• failure to provide services with due skill, care and diligence
• incompetent design or specifications
• inappropriate billing practice.

In the current year, the ARBV’s complaint data is indicating the following common complaint issues:

• failure to provide services with due skill, care and diligence
• inappropriate billing practice
• inadequate communication by the architect about the project or failing to listen to the client’s instructions.

The ARBV uses this complaints data to inform its proactive regulatory activities, such as the ARBV webinar series.

More information about our data and emerging issues and trends will be included in our upcoming Annual Report. Annual Reports are available on our website. 

Architects Tribunal Update

Disciplinary inquiries are conducted by the Architects Tribunal, which is independent of the Board. There are currently 8 matters for which the Architects Tribunal has issued Notices of Inquiry and one further matter that the Board has determined to refer for inquiry. 

Conduct that is currently being considered by the Tribunal includes:

• Entering into a client architect agreement that did not comply with the requirements in the Code of Conduct for architects.
• Careless or incompetent conduct by providing estimates for build cost that were significantly inaccurate.
• Failing to take reasonable steps to ensure information provided to a client was accurate and unambiguous.
• Failing to engender confidence in and respect for the profession of architecture with respect to communications with the client.
• Failing to disclose a conflict of interest.
• Careless or incompetent conduct by providing drawings for which a building permit could not be issued.
• Failing to act honestly and with reasonable care in the provision of services, by failing to comply with a planning permit.

Professional Practice Awards 2023

Congratulations to Devlin Golding (University of Melbourne) and Ryan Lofaro (Deakin University) who were awarded the Architects Registration Board of Victoria Professional Practice Awards for 2023. The Professional Practice Award is awarded for academic excellence in a subject that demonstrates specific knowledge, skills and industry preparedness related to architectural practice. 

L-R: Dr Glenice Fox, ARBV CEO and Registrar, Devlin Golding and Dr Djordje Stojanovic, Senior Lecturer in Architectural Design. Photo credit: Peter Casamento Photography

L-R: Dr Giorgio Marfella, ARBV Chairperson and Ryan Lofaro.

Architectural Practice Examination (APE) changes coming in 2024

In 2024 the Architectural Practice Examination will implement the 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects (NSCA). The overall format of the APE will not change.

A summary of the changes is below:

• The Procedure document has been updated and is now the Architectural Practice Examination Handbook.
• Candidates will no longer log experience as Observer, Participant and Executive.
• The logbook is now online.
• The Statement of Practical Experience needs to be verified by a registered architect.
• Candidates must complete the APE Performance Criteria Report.
• Candidates must review the AACA APE study guide and online resources.
• National Examination Paper (part 2) will also increase to an 80 question and 120-minute exam.

All candidates applying in 2024 will need to comply with these changes. Please note that candidates re-sitting can still apply for the relevant part (2 or 3), but will be required to submit the new 2024 documentation.

For more information about the specific changes, please see the AACA 2024 Architectural Practice Examination.